The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener

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Posted on December 31, 2014 by jmarkowski Posted in Family .

It all kicked off with a baking marathon and the kids were happy to take part.

xmas

Our 2nd annual Christmas Eve/Eve dinner at “Inn of the Hawke” in Lambertville, NJ was another smashing success.

Xmas eve, eve dinner #Christmas #NJ #Lambertville #InnoftheHawke

A photo posted by john markowski (@jmarkowski0) on Dec 12, 2014 at 3:47pm PST

 

A side note: most of our “traditions” are the result of a change to our original plans in which the kids go screaming and kicking against their will. However, the plan change ends up being “awesome” and a new tradition is born. Of course they never remember not wanting to do it in the first place.

One tradition we’ve maintained for a decade now is the reading of “The Night Before Christmas” on Christmas Eve. They will never get too old for it … I hope.

xmas2

Some day soon this will end and it will break our collective hearts.

xmas5

The calm before the Christmas day storm.

xmas6

Can I hit pause for a few years?

xmas7

Football cards were all the rage this year … reminds me of someone else I know quite well.

xmas8

Beanie Boo’s galore.

xmas9

A lot of cousin time.

xmas14

For you coffee lovers, I cannot stress enough just how life changing this Chemex is. Seriously, click the link and never look back. My wife knows me oh so well.

A life changing item. Coffee lovers throw away your Keurig and enter the world of Chemex. Holy crap’n crap. #Chemex #Coffee A photo posted by john markowski (@jmarkowski0) on Dec 12, 2014 at 7:16am P

Check this out. Guess who is going to be a guest DJ for an hour? What do you think, an hour of garden themed music? Or maybe half talk and half music?

wdvr

So for a week now, we have run around like mad, chilled out, visited with friends and family, hit up the movie theater, eaten cookies for breakfast, chilled out some more and I even found some time to visit my lonely winter garden.

winter

winter4

winter2

And chase the herd of deer away. Nothing to see here.

deer

Here’s to 2015 my friends.

No resolutions for me this year. I want each day to proceed slowly. I refuse to wish time away.

Enjoy.

 

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8 Responses

  1. Colleen says
    December 31, 2014 at 8:33 pm

    If you find a pause button for kids growing up please let us know! Especially at this time of year it would be great to hold on to that childhood wonder a little longer. Thanks for sharing.
    Happy New Year to you and your family!

    • jmarkowski says
      January 3, 2015 at 12:27 pm

      I’ll let you know once the “pause” button has been patented. Happy New Year!

  2. Kris P says
    December 31, 2014 at 9:18 pm

    That’s a great philosophy to follow. Best wishes for a wonderful 2015!

    • jmarkowski says
      January 3, 2015 at 12:27 pm

      You too Kris! Thanks for all of your comments throughout the year.

  3. Jan says
    January 1, 2015 at 9:50 am

    Sort of reminds me of my Melita coffee maker.
    Some good things never change. They will ALWAYS be your babies, no matter how they grow, just the way you give them their Christmas!

    • jmarkowski says
      January 3, 2015 at 12:28 pm

      Jan – what’s old is new again. Always seems to work out that way. Happy New Year!

  4. michaele anderson says
    January 1, 2015 at 6:05 pm

    Sigh, children and Christmas…pure magic. The room in which your tree is located is lovely …things looked so serene for that moment.
    I had to smile at seeing that the Chemex is enjoying a return to popularity. It was my first coffee maker as a new bride (wedding present…thank you, somebody) 35 years ago and I was so distraught when I broke it some years later. It wasn’t readily available for awhile so I went the more mundane route of a Mr. Coffee type device.

    • jmarkowski says
      January 3, 2015 at 12:29 pm

      Michaele – I had never heard of it before opening on Xmas. Crazy! And incredibly delicious. Happy New Year and thanks again for all your great comments!

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